That changed, however, after all but two of the Republican presidential candidates pulled out of a Dec. 27 Newsmax/ION debate that would have been moderated by Trump.

The real estate magnate told Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart that the other candidates had informed him that they would only participate in the debate if he promised not to run as an independent.

"I am not willing to give up my right to run as an Independent candidate. Therefore, so that there is no conflict of interest within the Republican Party, I have decided not to be the moderator of the Newsmax debate," he said last month.

Trump has since vowed to make his political intentions known following the season finale of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice. The show is scheduled to air on May 20.